CHM 116 Lecture 2: Chemical Kinetics Continued
Document Summary
The rate of a reaction can be predicted using an equation known as a rate law. Rate law --an equation that relates the reaction rate to the concentration of the reactants. We always have to go into the lab when talking about kinetics. A rate constant (k) and a reactant concentration dependence. Lowercase k always applies to the rate constant. Once you change temperature, the value of the rate constant changes, but if you stay in the same temperature, the rate constant does not change. Rate laws are only written in terms of the concentration or pressure of the reactants!!!! The exponent x or y refers to the reaction orderof that reactant. The overall reaction orderis the sum of all the exponents (x + y + ) The rate constant (k) will have different units depending upon the overall reaction order, while the rate will always be concentration per time.
